Facts and Figures

Race and crime

Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that in 2007 an estimated 10.6% percent of London’s population of 7,556,900 were black. Evidence shows that the black population in London boroughs increases with the level of deprivation, and that the level of crime also increases with deprivation, such that “It is clear that ethnicity, deprivation, victimisation and offending are closely and intricately inter-related”.

Social and General Statistics report on prison populations recorded in July 2013 stated that over one-quarter of the prison population whose ethnicity was recorded were from a minority ethnic group.
Among British nationals 21% of the population were from a minority ethnic group. 62% of foreign national prisoners were from a minority ethnic group. It also shows that that almost one-half of these were aged 25 to 39.

In June 2007 the Home Affairs Select Committee published a report on young black people and the criminal justice system of England and Wales. It said that young black people were over-represented at all stages of the criminal justice system. Statistics have consistently shown that black people are disproportionately more likely to be subject to stop and searches.

Stop and Search

In 2008/09 in England and Wales, more black people were stopped and searched under Section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act per head of population than any other ethnicity, and black people were seven times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people.

Black people were the subject of 14.8% of all stop and searches, compared to 7.6% of arrests and 6.7% of cautions. The disproportionate number of stop and searches is partly accounted for by the fact that 54% of the black population in England and Wales live in London, where stop and searches are more common for all ethnic groups.

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verb [ with obj. and infinitive ]
give (someone) the authority or power to do something:
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